The four New York-based LGBTQ groups – the Lambda Independent Democrats of Brooklyn, the Stonewall Democrats of NYC, Equality New York and the Lesbian and Gay Democratic Club of Queens – stressed that their boycott was due to the mayor’s appointment of Pastor Fernando Cabrera as senior adviser to the Office of Faith-Based and Community Partnerships and Pastor Erick Salgado as Assistant Commissioner for Immigration Affairs.
The joint statement describes the two as anti-LGBTQ pastors, but does not elaborate on why. The statement says the groups have problems with Cabrera because of his “connection to the anti-LGBTQ” group Alliance Defending Freedom, which they say is aimed at restricting queer rights both nationally and abroad. Meanwhile, the joint statement describes Salgado as “yet another anti-LGBTQ priest.”
CNN has contacted Cabrera and Salgado for a comment, but has not heard back.
Salgado also issued a statement following his appointment in February, stating that his “views have evolved as society has evolved. As MOIA Assistant Commissioner, my mission will be to uplift the immigrant communities throughout our city, including LGBTQ + immigrants, which often faces barriers to accessing necessary services. “
In a statement to CNN, the Alliance Defending Freedom states that it is “among the largest and most effective legal advocacy organizations dedicated to protecting the religious freedom and freedom of expression of all Americans,” , originating from the Southern Poverty Law Center.
The joint statement also stressed that “Mayor Adams’ only interests are his own and to prioritize the needs of the city’s police and surveillance institutions at the expense of investment in education, mental health, community health and LGBTQ services.” It also notes that the mayor has “tested the boundaries of the LGBTQ community to see where he can transcend – including who he can afford to disregard for the sake of his own interests.”
A fifth LGBTQ group, the Jim Owles Liberal Democratic Club, has previously announced it would not attend the reception. Allen Roskoff, the organization’s president, said on May 26 that the group refused to attend the event. He said Adams has been “a disappointment” to the LGBTQ community, and stressed that his administration has done little for the LGBTQ community.
Adams says Cabrera and Salgado apologized for previous remarks
“There are many Americans who want to behave like they always embraced marriage. That’s not the reality. People are evolving. They are getting better because of what they are experiencing. I sat down with all my nominees in a very strict “I believe that what they said and how they feel, in their own words – I heard them, I accept their apologies, and now it’s time for us to bring our city together,” Adams told the news conference.
On Thursday, Adams’s press secretary Fabien Levy told CNN: “Mayor Adams has a long history of standing with LGBTQ New Yorkers and has included different perspectives in working together to build both a town hall team and an agenda that reflects community voices.”
“The mayor is grateful to have hosted many of these groups at City Hall and has personally sat down with them to hear their ideas on engaging New Yorkers across the city,” Levy said in an email. “Our team is committed to serving all New Yorkers equally and fairly, no matter who they love or how they identify, and is excited to host a Pride celebration at Gracie Mansion next week.”
CNN’s Artemis Moshtaghian contributed to this report.
